Can an extraordinary young woman alter the course of history for the better……or will the forces of power and greed extinguish her light forever?
Find out in Dustin Dunbar’s new novel, Her Holiness.
Adopted by a loving Irish couple in Rome, young Kate Murphy is plagued by haunting visions that defy explanation—until a priest’s blessing unleashes a torrent of prophetic imagery, including chilling scenes of a man crucified upside down. As whispers of her power spread, she captures the attention of a radical Vatican sect, while across the world, evangelical zealot Edhir Souza builds an army to topple the Church and claim its influence. As Kate’s visions grow stronger, leading her toward a long-lost archaeological treasure, she becomes both a symbol of hope and a threat to entrenched power. With enemies closing in, her quest to challenge the Church’s patriarchy and awaken a new spiritual truth could cost her everything.
Enjoy an Excerpt
At the base of the towering monument, a crude wooden cross awaited him, stark and foreboding against the canvas of their revelry. Panic rose within him as he caught sight of it, and he struggled against his captors’ grip. Laughter erupted around him, jagged and cruel. “Stop wasting your energy, old man,” one of them taunted, tightening his hold. “I am not worthy,” he gasped, his voice cracking, hoarse from disuse. “Do not crucify me as you crucified my Lord.” The guards merely smirked. “You are going to die on that cross, old man. Now be silent and face your fate with some dignity.” He could feel his heart pounding, the weight of his pleas hanging heavy in the air. “Do not!” He shouted now, desperation coloring his words. The eyes of the crowd turned toward him, curiosity morphing into a darker hunger.
The leader of the guards sighed, annoyance flickering across his features. “What would you like us to do with you, old man? How should we kill you?” He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering what little strength he had left.
“You may crucify me if you wish. I cannot stop you. But hang me… upside down.” His voice was barely a whisper now, laced with a reverence he could not shake. “I am not worthy to die as he died.” The guard shrugged, laughter spilling from his lips like venom. “Dead is dead.”
He waved a hand at two of the men, and they stepped forward with a grim eagerness. “Upside down it is.” With a chilling efficiency, they laid him upon the cross, nailing his hands and feet, securing him to the brutal instrument of his execution. He felt the sharp surge of pain with each blow, but he offered no resistance, no cry of anguish escaped his lips. They lifted the cross, hoisting it high until its base struck the ground with a dreadful thud. His head hung low, nearly touching the earth, while his feet rose into the air—an inverted position that felt like a mockery of everything he stood for.
As the crowd roared and the sun beat down mercilessly, memories flashed through his mind—moments of laughter, love, and fervent faith. He thought of his Lord, of the love that had driven him to endure so much for the sake of others. Time stretched painfully, each agonizing minute a reminder of the suffering he had seen inflicted upon others.
Yet amidst the torment, a profound peace washed over him as the hours passed, the pain blurring into a distant hum. In those final moments, as darkness encroached upon his vision, he summoned the last vestiges of his strength. With every ounce of love that had filled his heart across the decades, he breathed his final words in Latin, a prayer woven into the very fabric of his soul. “Ignosce, diligatis envicem, nunc coepi.” Forgive, love one another, now I begin.
About the Author:
Dustin Dunbar is an author, visionary, and transformative voice running for president in 2028 on a platform of common sense, compassion, and a refusal to play politics as usual. A survivor of generational addiction, his hard-won personal triumph—chronicled in his memoir You’re Doing Great! (And Other Lies Alcohol Told Me)—propelled him into the worlds of psychology and spirituality, where he earned a doctorate and built a thriving coaching practice. With Her Holiness, a bold religious thriller, Dunbar turned his gaze to the intersection of faith and corruption. Now, as a presidential candidate, he is driven by a singular mission: to awaken America to its vast potential and shared humanity. He lives in San Diego, where his two daughters remain his greatest inspiration.
